What does Biblical hope look like?

I’m concerned that most people (believer’s included) look at hope like it’s some kind of mystical wishful thinking.

The Apostle Paul says this about hope in Romans 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” We should expect to be filled with joy and peace because of our real and dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit … not due to wishful thinking! Also, it’s imperative from a Biblical frame-of-reference to remember that we cannot experience this real and sincere sense of joy and peace by our own will power, but only through the power of the Holy spirit who lives within us!

As believers, instead of defaulting to a perspective of saying, “I hope something will happen,” we have every reason to live out on a daily basis the Biblical definition of hope, which is, “Confident expectation.”

Everything we do in our lives comes down to what we do with Jesus! How we identify truth from God’s message to us through His word, as well as through the leading of His Holy Spirit, will impact every aspect of our lives here and now … and for how and where we will live forever in eternity.

1 Peter 2:3-4 says, “God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

Paul also says in Romans 15:4, “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”

Psalm 119:40-44 says, “I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness. Lord, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope. I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever.”

Please don’t just take my word for this perspective on what hope means … continue to search the Scriptures, let them be your guide in everything!

What does it look like to truly surrender ownership of our lives to Jesus?

Surrendering is a very dynamic action, and not just a one-time thing! It’s evidenced when we intentionally set aside our own plans, in exchange for being obedient, moment-by-moment to following the plans God has for us.

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

It’s a matter of the choices we make on an ongoing basis to rely on and completely trust in the finished work on the cross, and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. We must willingly ‘die’ daily to our worldly and fleshly desires, in order to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.

Acts 2:21 says, “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.” This literally makes all the difference in the world, as we become sealed by the God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) at the moment of our salvation, which gives us unique access to the very Creator of the Universe to help lead us and guide us through the rest of our lives.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

I recognize this is a message that runs counter-cultural to just about everything the world throws at us. However, if our baseline for identifying truth is found in Jesus, and is laid out clearly in His word, then we’ve got an eternity to look forward to amidst all of the temporary storms in our lifetime. No matter how severe your current struggles may be, if you’ve surrendered ownership of your life to Jesus … be encouraged, because He’s guaranteed you’ll never be alone ever again!!

Is practical, effective, and life-altering wisdom & revelation available to all Christians?

Hypothetically speaking, from a Biblical perspective, where should one turn to for very specific help under the following circumstances?

• Advising a soon to be college graduate daughter who has a heart to serve those who are in desperate need of practical assistance in developing countries, while at the same has a burning desire to have a real influence in establishing life-changing policies for the right non-profit organization here in the States.

• Helping a spouse who works unceasingly to provide essential care for children, and who is going through the process of literally having a house built on her property … ultimately to make a long term investment into her families’ future.

• Facing a seemingly impossible situation with a mother-in-law who is battling Dementia and lives so far away that it’s heart wrenching not being able to be there to help her through all of her daily needs, having lost the capacity to manage them herself.

Does the Bible speak to these kinds of nitty gritty issues? And if so, what should our response be?

The Apostle Paul says this in Ephesians 1:13-17, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit as owned and protected. The Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers; I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

So we too, like Paul can always pray for a spirit of wisdom and of revelation over the above 3 hypothetical scenarios … as well as pray for any other set of circumstance under the sun!

Jesus said in John 14:16-17, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

I believe the key to understanding better what the spirit of wisdom and revelation that Paul prays for, is clarified in the phrase that immediately follows …“So that you may know Him better.”

When we find ourselves praying on behalf of other believers like Paul was in Ephesians chapter 1 … we can boldly intercede on their behalf and ask the Lord to provide them with His spirit of wisdom and revelation.

I’m so grateful that the Lord has given us a lifelong process to know Him better, as well as to make Him known to a lost and dying world around us. May He receive the glory for all of our sincere prayers as He answers them in His time!

Why choose to trust God?

I’m not sure about you, but I can become pretty frustrated when I don’t understand something. It could be work related, some relationship confusion, some new physical ailment, financial hardship, or why hasn’t a loved one I’ve been praying for put their trust in Jesus.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].

John 10:24-28 says, “So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainly and openly.” Jesus answered them, “I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me. But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep. The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand.”

Even (especially) when we don’t fully understand why our circumstances are the way they are … we can put our trust in Jesus and focus on promises like this one in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Wherever you may find yourself today, I encourage you to consider what Bob Goff said in his 2/19/2025 daily devotional, “The truth is, only faith-infused purpose has the ability to be the great balancer.”

Through all your struggles and challenges here and now, please study the Scriptures and see for yourself why God’s word says that, “He desires everyone to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

Why not DECIDE … COMMIT … REPEAT?

How, and why is our faith tested?

If we start with the premise that God does in fact test us, it would be wise to identify the Biblical (both the Old Testament along with the New Testament) baseline of what “testing” means … which is “to prove by trial.”

1 Peter 1:6-9 says, “In this you rejoice greatly, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving as the result [the outcome, of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

James 1:3-4 says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:4-7, “While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

When we consider what Job went through, we see a perfect example of God allowing one of His children to be tested by the devil. However, Job’s testing is proof that our adversary’ ability to try us is limited by God’s sovereignty. Romans 8:27-8 says, “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Life can be heavy, but remember that our pain is temporary! God’s grace is eternal. The weight of our trials can seem unbearable, but we should take heart as God himself will step in and restore us. The storms we face will not destroy us, they will help to refine us.

1 Peter 5:10 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

According to the Bible, what kinds of things last, and ultimately have eternal value?

There’s no getting around the fact that we all live in a material world. For those of us who live in the United States, it’s easy to become desensitized and fall into the trap of ‘worshiping’ materialism.

Merriam-Webster defines materialism as, "A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values."

Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.

While Jesus was teaching using a parable in Mark 4:18-19 He says, “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. How we actually live (evidenced by the fruit we produce), is more revealing than what we may like to think about how we live.

In Luke 12:13-15 we read in the Parable of the Rich Fool, “Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Isn’t it interesting that in our culture all too often our lives are measured by how much we own? So it makes sense to be counter-cultural as it relates to the kinds of things that have eternal value.

Isaiah 40:7-8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

1 Peter 1:23-24 mirrors what Isaiah proclaimed, “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, people are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.”

If it’s true that both God’s word along with people are going to last and live forever … wouldn’t it make sense for us to invest our time, our talents, and our earthly treasure here and now into the things that are going to last for all eternity?!

Judgment day is coming for everyone, and now is the time to determine our eternal outcome. Here’s what Matthew 25:41-46 says about what’s at stake, “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

According to the Bible, there are only two options regarding where every person will go after their life here is over. Please choose your path wisely, as you’re prepping for eternity!

What does it mean when Scripture speaks of ‘the evidence of our faith?’

1 John 4:10-13 says, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.”

The photo on our home page with the palm trees obviously being blown by a strong wind, is symbolic of seeing the evidence of God without actually seeing Him … just as we cannot see the wind, we cannot see God.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:6-7, “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. We walk by faith, not by sight.”

Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves, but it is the gift of God.”

Since MWM’s baseline for identifying truth is Jesus … we encourage everyone to search the Scriptures and let them be the guide for identifying your baseline for truth.

For those who believe the Bible is true, and who put their trust and faith in Jesus to be forgiven of their sins … you should rejoice to the max here and now, as well as have a peace that surpasses all understanding because Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

For those who have yet to decide where to land on this whole faith thing, and who may have more very real and very valid questions … please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We would love to try and help any way we can. Since eternity by definition is literally forever without end … don’t you think it will be worth following the evidence to see where it leads you?

Can the Bible really affect how we think, and consequently how we act?

My definitive answer to that question is a resounding “Yes!” Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Keep in mind that Mighty Wind Ministries’ baseline for identifying truth is the Jesus of the Bible. Also, it’s important to note that we believe God’s Word is infallible (incapable of making mistakes or being wrong) … and has the power to transform lives for all those who put their trust and faith in Jesus.

Psalm 119:9-11 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”

I was 18-years old when I surrendered ownership of my life to the Lord, and I think it’s impossible to live out what the Scriptures teach us, without an awareness and a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

A good definition of what the companionship of the Holy Spirit living within each believer is, “The fellowship and the reality of His closeness with us 24/7.” It’s a unique relationship to say the least, and one we would do well to not take for granted, as His desire and His constant presence is to help us make wise decisions!

1 Peter 1:21-25 says, “Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever. And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.”

Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.”

May that be our prayer! May we pay attention to what’s within our control, and may we rely upon the greatest companion of all time Who is eager to guide and direct our steps throughout our lifetime.

God’s infallible words to us in Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

In case you’re still unsure what your personal baseline is for identifying truth … tonight, would you please consider looking up into the stars and take what I call, “The Prophet Isaiah Challenge?”

One of the strongest arguments in favor of the existence of God is the “Argument From Design,” which claims that observations of design in nature are best explained by a deliberate, intelligent act of creation rather than by randomness, or perhaps by chance.

Psalm 103:11-12 says, “For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

The reality is that the more we learn about the universe, the more clearly we can see with our own eyes as we look up into the stars that God created them all! Psalm 119:1-5 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.”

Paul says in Romans 1:19-21, “They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.”

When asking an atheist what their baseline is for identifying truth, they often reply by stating they believe in science. However, Bible is on the side of science! We shouldn’t for a moment shy away from engaging with atheists with logical and scientific responses such as the “Argument From Design.” Who in their right mind would look at a beautiful painting and come to the conclusion that it’s just the product of a mindless, unguided process? Compared to anyone who has not had their minds become dark and confused, and would obviously recognize that there was in fact someone who created that beautiful painting, known as the painter.

Just in case you’re doubting that there is a designer responsible for creating the universe and everything in it … I would humbly encourage you to answer Isaiah’s question from Isaiah 40:26 tonight while gazing at the stars, when he said, “Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.”

Is there any possible way you could still believe that those beautiful stars that you just personally observed were created by random chance?

God will never force anyone to go to heaven against their will

With regard to putting our faith in Christ, it’s important to recognize from a Biblical frame-of-reference the difference between ‘belief that’ and ‘belief in.’

James 2:18-20 says, “Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”

Belief ‘that’ God exists is merely an intellectual inclination, which is not the same as putting our trust ‘in’ Jesus! It’s a major distinction surrounding whether we believe that Jesus is who the Scripture says He is, compared to whether we willfully believe in Him by surrendering our lives unto Him wholly & completely.

The Bible says that even the demons believe that God exists, however they choose not to trust ‘in’ Him. Similarly, I could have believed 33 1/2 years ago that I thought the beautiful young woman that I was dating at the time would be a good life-partner … but that couldn’t become a reality unless I decided to trust ‘in’ her by agreeing to enter into holy matrimony together. I have not had a moment of regret as the Lord truly knit our hearts together before we got married while we were both doing volunteer outreach for a Christ-centered ministry at the time. I am so blessed as our mutual trust we have between each other only continues to grow, increase, and flourish.

Providing evidence that Christianity is true and that heaven is a real place, from an intellectual perspective (or reason) is necessary and tremendously important. However, belief ‘in’ is a step of faith or trust in Jesus that we must all make in order to experience salvation! True Christians have both … belief THAT and belief IN.

What would you say if you were told beyond any reasonable doubt, that you’re going to live forever?

Perhaps you would respond with, ‘Says who?’ Or, ‘How is that even possible as last time I checked, everyone is going to die at some point?’ Or, ‘That’s a bunch of baloney, and must be a marketing slogan trying to sell some phony fountain of youth supplement!’

Jesus said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

1 John 5:11-13 says, “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”

Depending upon who & what we put our trust into for identifying truth, will ultimately determine where we land surrounding the question of the afterlife.

Here is just one of the many reasons I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist: My atheist friends don’t believe they have a mind that is separate from their physical brain matter. And they believe their brain is just the end product of a mindless, unguided process. They say they put all their trust in science, and yet from my perspective, it sure seems as though they have to have a ton more faith in a mindless, unguided process, than any Bible believing Christian does!

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:10, “Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.”

My encouragement to everyone, is to search the Scripture, let it be your guide! It’s not wishful thinking for a ‘happy ever after’ ending, it’s truth you can count on! Since according to the Bible, the moment we take our final breath here on this earth, it’s truly just the beginning of an eternity spent with Jesus!

C.S. Lewis once said, There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘They will be done.’

It’s literally up to each one of us to choose where we’ll live forever, please choose wisely, as eternity is a very long time!

Let’s see if I can bring a little clarity about what Christian Apologetics is

One way of identifying what Apologetics means, is saying it’s a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set Christ apart as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance that is within you, yet with gentleness and respect.”

It’s important to recognize that all follower’s of Christ were at some point lost and dying in their sins. Paul says in Titus 3:3-8, “For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His grace, and that we would be made heirs of eternal life according to our hope (His guarantee). This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.”

I think what Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 is very relevant to each one of us and the cultural time we’re currently living through; “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”

1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” We in fact have the only cure for the eternally terminal disease that we’re all born with. The question is, do we have the courage to share it (Jesus’ saving grace) with those around us, even though we risk rejection and ridicule?

Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7-9, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.”

Jesus says in Matthew 10:30-33, “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”

Why is the Bible such a big deal to Christians?

The simplest reason is because it reveals God to us! Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, “But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Follower’s of Christ believe in what’s known as Sola scriptura. We believe that God’s Word is infallible … and that it is authoritative, complete, true, and available for anyone and everyone to understand and live by.

Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Psalm 119:7-9 says, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,  making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.”

These are truly Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth! I am so grateful to the Lord for providing us with a guide book that has the power to literally transform our lives on this side of eternity!

The more we know His Word, the more familiar His voice will become to us. Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it beautifully, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

It’s one thing for God’s Word to reveal Himself to us through studying it, but it’s imperative that we do our part by putting our trust in Him with ALL our heart … and not leaning on our own understanding … and always submitting to His guidance and direction.

My sincere question to anyone who may be reading this post and has yet to put their faith and trust in Jesus … is, “Why not?” Do you need more evidence before believing? Are the professing Christians you know not very inspiring examples, and even seem like hypocrites? Do you think you’re too far gone, and if there is a God, there’s no way He could ever accept me into His family? Whatever may be holding you back from saying “Yes” to Jesus, please reach out as I would love the opportunity to hear your objections, and why you’ve chosen to seek truth from some other source.

What is the “Book of Life,” mentioned in the Bible?

Revelation 20:12-16 says, “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

There’s a lot of talk about making our mark in this world and leaving a lasting legacy that we could be proud of. If the Bible is true (which I believe 100% it is!), I think our #1 priority, along with our #1 objective in our lifetime should be to ensure that our names are written in the Book Of Life! And the great news is, that God has made this all important decision of where we will live throughout all eternity available to everyone to decide!! My strong recommendation is to choose wisely, and not to take lightly this extremely consequential choice that you need to make while there’s still time.

The Book Of Life, mentioned many times in the Scriptures, is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven. It is the roll of those who have done what Romans 10:9-10 identifies as being necessary to be saved … as Paul proclaims, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

Luke 10:17-20 says, “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

Can you think of anything more important, more pressing, or of more value than having your name registered (in the Book Of Life) in heaven? I can’t, and it would be a great blessing for me if you’re ever interested in learning more about what the Bible says about both heaven and hell. Please don’t hesitate to contact me as I would love to hear from you!

Should our faith inform our political views?

We as followers of Jesus should live in such a way that gives evidence of the gospel’s transforming power, in every area of our lives … including our political views!

It’s abundantly clear that our great nation was established nearly 250 years ago upon Biblical principles. However, our primary mission as believer’s isn’t trying to change our nation through political reform, but in helping to change the hearts and minds of its people through the Word of God.

We’re to do what Jesus commissioned His disciples to do in Matthew 28:16-20 when He said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We’re absolutely called to stand against the sins of our time, and advocate for Godly & righteous policies. From a Biblical frame-of-reference, it’s not difficult to parse through the all too common political ‘slight of hand,’ and land on the truth surrounding policies that many politicians try to push on the society at large.

Ultimately, we need to pray that individual hearts will be changed by Christ, so that individuals are transformed by His saving grace. Then, we should see the culture around us better reflect godliness.

Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice; But when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.” Most of us have lived through both scenarios in our great country, which should be a motivating factor to participate in our elections process, by supporting candidates who stand for the same Godly principles our nation was founded on.

Does the Bible have anything to say about how we spend our time?

I think the bottom line in identifying the Biblical answer to this question, is found by understanding how to live our lives wisely!

Here’s what Paul says in Ephesians 5:15-18, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Paul also says this in Colossians 4:5-6, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”

None of us knows how much time we’ll have on this earth, and we would be wise to pay attention to what James 4:13-16 encourages us to do, “ Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.”

It’s imperative that we recognize that the Bible teaches we are saved by grace and not by working our way to heaven by ‘being a good’ or a moral person. At the same time, it’s equally important to realize that what we do with the time the Lord allows us to live here and now, matters for all eternity!

Unlike unbeliever’s who reject Christ’s free offer of salvation by choosing to pay the price for their own sins once they die … those who said “Yes” to Jesus in their lifetime will be judged at what’s known as ‘The judgment seat of Christ’ after they die to determine the rewards they’ll receive once they enter the eternal heaven. Here’s what Paul specifically says about that in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, “But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will be clearly shown; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. If any person’s work which he has built remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. But if any person’s work is burned up, he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

I think Titus 3:4-8 sums up very nicely what the Bible has to say about what we do with our time and ultimately our lives: “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.”

What does the Bible mean when it says, “The light shines in the darkness?”

On the larger scale, I think it means that Jesus ultimately came to bring the light of God’s life into a spiritually dark and dying world, and that He is in all things, and nothing happens independent of Him.

Here’s the way John 1:1-5 puts it, “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it.

According to scripture, light and darkness are commonly symbolic of good and evil. Darkness represents the absence of light, meaning God is not there. It represents the power of evil, sin, and unbelief in this world that continues to reject Christ. For those who don’t accept Jesus as the light who came to pay the price for their sins, it means their future will be eternal separation from Him in darkness and torment.

In John 3:18-21 Jesus says, “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

The common theme throughout the Bible is found here in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

The decision is ours to either stay in the darkness and face an eternity apart from Him, or to repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. By doing the later, we will experience what He says here in John 8:12, “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

The main focus of Mighty Wind Ministries is to encourage everyone to consider making the Bible their baseline for identifying truth. It truly changes everything once we put our faith in Jesus and recognize He has provided us with a trustworthy and reliable guidebook to help make sense of the world we all live in.

Finally, please take to heart the sense of urgency from our Lord here in John 12:35-36, “Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Why did Jesus say, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it,” in Matthew 7:14 when He was referring to heaven?

That statement doesn’t appear to be very inviting, or appealing, or even attainable, does it?

Just a few verses prior though, Jesus says this in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

We were all born with a human nature that is drawn towards comfort, and selfishness, and pleasure. I think the ‘narrow & difficult’ path Jesus describes is because surrendering ownership of our lives unto Him requires dying to our flesh.

Paul says in Galatians 2:20-21, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”

Paul also said in Galatians 5:24-25, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

James 1:10-15 says, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

It’s vitally important to recognize the difference between being tempted, compared to being tested! We should expect to be tested throughout our entire lifetime. The reality when Jesus said our lives as His followers would be very difficult and narrow, should help us to persevere through all the trials and tests that come our way.

Wherever you may be on your personal faith journey, I think it’s helpful to realize that choosing to say “Yes” to Jesus doesn’t mean life is always going to be easy. Yet, consider His promise here in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you!” So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

Scripture is abundantly clear that God offers salvation to everyone who accepts it! John 1:9-12 says, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.  He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

It’s a very sad reality that most people turn away from Jesus, rather than denying themselves whatever they think they deserve in this lifetime. We don’t do anyone any favors by sugar-coating the message of the gospel. Even though the vast majority of people are not willing to pay the price to follow Him, we should continue to share the truth in love, praying that people will ultimately choose the narrow & difficult road that leads to eternal life.

What’s your response if someone asks if you think a person you both knew is now in heaven?

I love the way Jesus taught truth through His parables! The following passage is an example for our consideration surrounding this awkward question when asked where people who have died may be now … from Matthew 21:28-32 when Jesus was sharing with the religious leaders of His time:

“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.”

Perhaps a better question to ask surrounding where a loved one, or a friend, or an acquaintance is after their death, might be something like, ‘As far as you know, was their life consistent with the saving faith of Christ?’

From a Biblical frame-of-reference, there are only two options for where people will go after their life here is over. Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Unfortunately, the enemy has the vast majority of our culture convinced that all anyone has to do to get into heaven is to be a good moral person. Here’s a reminder from Luke 23:39-43 about the simplicity of God’s truth from a real-life conversation that took place while Jesus was on the cross being crucified. “One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”  But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Just to clarify from a Biblical perspective surrounding the question of how anyone can know that they will in fact go to heaven after they die, consider what Acts 4:8-12 says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, part 2

I’ve participated on a variety of teams throughout my lifetime, but none more important or consequential than being a life-partner with my beautiful bride Kimberly throughout the last 33-years! I’m so grateful that the Lord created all of us to be on His team, and that He went the extra mile by filling us with His Holy Spirit to ensure our success.

Paul says in Romans 12:4-8, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit grants spiritual gifts according to His will, according to how He has chosen to use each individual believer to minister to others. We don’t actually get to treat these gifts like a ‘buffet’ of choices and preferences to pick and choose from. We all possess spiritual gifts based upon God’s Word to be sure! However, it’s the Holy Spirit who knows what gift(s) to bestow upon each one of us so that we will function in the body (on His team), in such a way that brings the maximum glory and honor to our Lord and Savior.

I’m so very grateful to the Lord for instilling in me the gift of encouraging others! And please take to heart what Paul says here in Romans 12:1-2 as you personally seek to faithfully live out your calling and your gift(s) that He’s placed within you … “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”